By David Volz

Pompano Beach City Commission has directed city staff not to bring forward any ordinances concerning red light cameras.

Mayor Lamar Fisher said, “We are going to put the red light camera matter on hold.”

Fisher said that in other cities, income from red light cameras has not covered expenses. People are challenging tickets and winning. The commission wants to see how the matter of red light cameras will play out.

Also, the commission had an extensive discussion on a 10 or 11 acre park in Collier City. A developer has offered to make the land available to the city and it might be developed into a football/soccer field and running track. Vice Mayor George Brummer said he would be interested in seeing it developed because there is a need for a football complex that can handle about 2,000 people on game days. This would be a multi-million dollar development.

By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach boys coach Kenny Brown gives instruction to the Bucks during an earlier game this season.

Hopes for state championships for local boys’ teams were dashed this week when the remaining two high school squads, Highlands Christian Academy and Deerfield Beach, each lost their regional quarterfinal match-ups at home.

Highlands Christian Academy dropped a 37-35 decision to visiting Lake Worth Christian in a Class 2A game, while Santaluces rallied for a buzzer-beating basket to drop Deer-field Beach, 54-52, in a Class 6A contest.

Jeff Romeus scored 25 points to lead the Chiefs (21-7) past the Bucks (19-6) in Deerfield Beach; however, it was Chiefs’ senior Corey Johnson who was the hero. Johnson scored his only basket of the night as time ran out to give Santaluces the win. Santaluces rallied from a 52-48 deficit with 1:14 remaining to stun the hosts.

Santaluces’ Jeff Romeus hit his fifth 3-point basket of the contest, and after Kirby Simpson converted one of two free throws for the Bucks, then dropped two free throws with 53.4 seconds remaining to pull to with 52-50. The Chiefs’ Jess Ewald tied the game at 52-52 with two free throws with 2.7 seconds remaining.

The Bucks threw the ball away on the inbounds play to give the ball back to the Chiefs. Santaluces’ Steven David hit a cutting Johnson under the basket for an easy lay-up for the game-winner.

Teias Peaton-Lane paced the Bucks with 15 points.

Deerfield took a 41-39 lead into the fourth quarter after Simpson converted a 3-point play with 1.6 seconds remaining as he hit a runner from the baseline and was fouled by Corey Johnson. The Bucks led by as much as 49-42 with 3:14 remaining on a basket by Peaton-Lane before the Chiefs started their comeback.

Deerfield Beach, which won state titles in 1997 and 1999, hadn’t been to the playoffs since 2004. The Bucks had won 13 of its past 14 games and two in a row since a 67-62 loss to Blanche Ely in the Big 8 on Feb. 2.

Paul Jones had 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Avalon George added 11 points as the Defenders (17-10) edged host Highlands Christian Academy. Senior forward Andrew Smith had a team-high 12 points for the Knights (18-10), which led by one at halftime.

“I give Lake Worth Christian a lot of credit in executing a very good defensive game plan on us,” said Highlands coach Jim Good, whose team had a season-low 35 points in the loss. “In the end, we still had our chances, but it seemed as if it wasn’t meant to be.”

Good said his team played one of its toughest schedules ever with most of its losses coming to teams that won district titles or advanced to the state playoffs.

“We will miss our seven seniors, Andrew Smith, Mike Gray, Justin Dann, Jeff Sullivan, Matt Moser, Lee Izquierdo and Chris Deshommes,” Good said. “It’s definitely going to be a rebuilding year next season – a challenge that I am looking forward too.”

Blanche Ely’s Germain DeCoste, right, tries to drive past Dillard’s Ryan Duncans in an earlier game this season. DeCoste scored 16 points in the Tigers’ 67-57 loss to Northeast ending their season. Photos by Gary Curreri

Blanche Ely dropped a 67-57 decision to Northeast in the District 16-5A semifinal to end its season at 18-6. Clide Geffrard had 22 points, while Germain DeCoste and Anterio Smith had 16 and 11 points, respectively, in a losing effort.

“We had a great summer and with the guys here my expectations were pretty high,” said Blanche Ely coach Melvin Randall, who has been at the school for 10 years and won a state title with the Tigers in 2007.

He also won two state titles with Deerfield Beach in 1997 and 1999. “We kind of jelled over the summer.”

Randall said as high school teams graduate players, he always seems to find a way to sustain success.

It’s a simple formula, he said. “The situation I am in is that I always go with the cards that I am dealt. It is about development. My staff and I try and develop these kids who are considered no names I guess by some people. Somehow they develop into these standout players, which we’ve known since day one, but not everybody knows about them. We may not have the most athletic players consistently, but we try and develop them into those types of players. I give that credit to my staff and also the players, who have put in the hard work.”

By Dave Montalbano

Cast of Two and a Half Jews – Mark Robert Gordon, the late Len Lesser & the late Bruce Adler

Best known for playing “Uncle Leo” in Seinfeld, Len Lesser had worked steadily as a character actor for over 60 years. Since the dawn of television, each decade, Lesser has had a part in popular TV shows, from The Untouchables to Everybody Loves Raymond.

After his service in World War II, Lesser pursued the craft of acting, thanks to his old friend, Lee Marvin. Lesser worked steadily for 65 years with a resume that includes 500 television shows, over 50 movies and 100 plays. Clint Eastwood spat on him in The Outlaw Josey Wales. In The Birdman of Alcatraz, he wrestled the rock from both Burt Lancaster and Karl Malden.

When I interviewed Mr. Lesser three years ago, the actor said of his career, “I have always been busy as an actor. I am fortunate to make a living and raise a family.”

He recalled a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

“It was a spiritual and solemn occasion with people dressed in exotic robes and submitting prayers to the wailing wall,” he said.

His religious moment was interrupted when he heard a person’s scream, “Hey, Look! It’s UNCLE LEO!”

We lost this kind gentleman last week. Hopefully, this Sunday, the Academy Awards will memorialize this reliable character actor whose track record goes beyond Uncle Leo.

Oscar Parties!

At Cinema Paradiso, the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival will host an Oscar-watching party featuring Michelle’s fine cuisine of The King’s Speech Chicken a la King, A Biutiful Paella, True Grit roasted potatoes and dessert featuring Black Swan Cake and Ice Cream Bar with Winter’s Bone toppings. www.fliff.com.

There are three film festivals proposed for Palm Beach county in March and April, and the veteran Palm Beach International Film Festival will host the only party that is sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This Oscar Night America will be held at the Bash of Boca on 6018 SW 18 St. in Boca Raton. Local red carpet arrivals begin at 7:30 p.m. www.pbifilmfest.org.

• Despite reports of the demise of PBIFF last year, Executive Director Randi Emmerman has managed to reunite the core PBIFF team and has expanded the festival to eight days during the last week of March. An announcement about the details is expected.

Our federal government was bragging last week that nationwide unemployment has dropped slightly, but is still over 9 percent. In Florida, it’s12 percent!

I overheard two employees in a local retail store talking recently in the aisle next to me as I shopped. They were discussing a fellow employee who had quit his job there and had managed to get on the unemployment roll. “Can you believe it?” said one. “He is getting from the government within a few dollars per week of what we are making, and he doesn’t even have to get out of bed in the morning.” They continued, “ However, he’s actually making a lot more than us because he’s already working  “off the book” at another place, part time for cash.” I drifted away to another isle as I heard them questioning whether or not they should do the same thing.

Fast forward to two weeks later. My wife and I were on a long planned cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Bermuda. Our first night at sea was open seating, so we sat down next to a couple in their late 40s from Pompano. After we’d talked about various amenities on the ship, I asked the couple what they did back on land. The lady spoke up first and said she was a school teacher in Broward County. When I asked her where, she said she was currently unemployed. When I queried her husband, he said “I’m a welder, but I just lost my job too.” Trying to be helpful, I said “I know the owners of several companies trying to hire welders right now. I handed him my card and said, “Give me a call when we get back to Ft. Lauderdale, and I’ll get you an interview.” A few minutes later, as we all left the table, I noticed he shoved my card under his napkin purposely leaving it. I thought to myself  “So much for looking for a job.” The rest of the cruise they pointedly avoided us.

There is a common concept that employees pay into the Unemployment Compensation Fund and, therefore, are simply getting some of their money back. That is simply not true. Only employers pay in! Because Florida’s unemployment roll now exceeds 12 percent, Florida employers are now being required to put in an additional $2 billion into the unemployment compensation fund. This raises the costs for all Florida companies, puts us all at a competitive disadvantage, and is counter-productive to bringing more jobs to Florida. Therefore, when people abuse the system, they are making it more difficult for everyone here, including themselves, to get a job in the future.

David Eller, Publisher

DEERFIELD BEACH

Feb. 16 A juvenile was arrested at Deerfield Beach High after he stole a 2002 Ford Explorer from a business on North Dixie Highway.

Feb. 16 Police responded to reports of five juveniles ruining recently-poured concrete on SW 10 Street. Teens were gone when police arrived, but names, words and drawings were already carved into the concrete.

Feb. 17 A woman was unloading her grocery cart at Target on W. Hillsboro Boulevard when a possible gray Honda approached, a black male exited the car and stole her purse from the cart.

Feb. 20 Police were called to SE 8 Avenue after a 55-gallon drum of oil was found spilled into the storm drain. No witnesses.

Feb. 20 Home on NW 3 Court was burglarized and jewelry stolen.

Feb. 20 Peter Alvarado, of Boca, was arrested for trying to steal a toilet from Home Depot.

DEERFIELD — District 4

Feb. 18 BSO deputies working a burglary operation in the Gates of Hillsboro stopped two suspicious people soliciting door to door.  One suspect was in the country illegally and had an extensive criminal past.  He was handed over to Immigration authorities for further investigation.  These suspects are not connected to recent burglaries in the area. Deputies are continuing their efforts to apprehend those responsible.

Feb. 18 BSO deputies responded to the 3200 block of SW 1 Street in Deer Run after an alert neighbor witnessed a suspect remove fishing poles from a residence. Deputies used the information to locate and arrest the suspect near Century Village and Hillsboro boulevards. Suspect was charged with burglary and petit theft. (This is another great example of community policing at work.)

Feb. 22 Male teen was observed knocking on the doors of homes in the Deer Run neighborhood Tuesday morning around 11 a.m.  Resident who reported the activity thought it was suspicious because the young man did not appear to have a reason for approaching these homes. The resident also observed the teen approach a white older model car that had been circling the neighborhood.

I recently officiated at a funeral with Military Honors. The young men and women who have this duty are so respectful, not just of the family, but of the flag.

While many young ones today might not know it, there is a special way that a flag is folded. And, when the bugler from the Military Honor Guard plays taps, he does not do what so many do when they sing the National Anthem before a ballgame. He just plays the notes as they were written — sweet, pure and simple. And, the Honor Guard doesn’t look for any praise from the people in attendance. Instead, the head of their detail will bend down on one knee and present the flag to the widow or widower and thank them for their spouse’s service to this country.

Oh, and one more thing, when it is a “lifer” or an officer who passed away, there is yet another ritual that occurs during the Military Honors… the rifle salute. I don’t know if you have ever been at a funeral that has had this or not; but I can tell you this, I have been at several, and to this day, whenever those shots are fired, something inside me jumps and, pretty much everyone at the service jumps or shakes, as they did not realize just how piercing the sound of those rifles was going to be. The other day I found out that those who have served in uniform still cringe when they hear such a loud explosion as well. I shudder to think what goes through their head, let alone what goes through the head of a veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

So, it was with much amazement that I had the thrill of attending the Founders’ Days celebration on beautiful Deerfield Beach. I was there the night of the fireworks display, and it was during that display that I again felt so blessed to be a part of this great country. It wasn’t just that the weather was perfect. It wasn’t just the beauty of the fireworks that brought an array of dazzling colors into the clear night’s sky. It was the loud bangs that came as those fireworks lit up the night. Some of those explosions were so loud that people screamed in momentary fear. But, right after that, we laughed in pure delight as we realized how blessed we were. You see, we all came together in peace that night. We didn’t feel threatened. We didn’t worry if the explosions were (as so many others in foreign lands deal with on a regular basis) an attack on sunny South Florida. Imagine so many people (and there was a huge crowd) able to come together in peace and enjoy the sights and sounds of the evening.

“Hine Mah Tov U’manaim Shevet Achim Gam Yachad.” (“Oh how good and how pleasant it is, when people can dwell together in peace.”)

On the beach, you see all ages and all ethnic groups; and talk about blessings, people were even courteous as they searched for a parking space in The Cove … and, that is indeed a miracle. The Founders would have been proud. Let’s keep the miracle(s) going.

Shalom My Friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a Hospice Chaplain and Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He also provides Professional Pastoral Care Services to a number of health centers in Broward County.

Highland Beach Library Book Talk and Sale

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2 to 4 p.m.

3618 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach, FL 33487

Free, cost of books vary. 561-487-2653.

The Greater Pompano Beach Republican Club meets

Thursday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.

Emma Lou Olson Community Center

1801 NE 6 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Chase Adams, president of Broward County Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, presents “Winning the Next American Revolution.” Mark McCarthy, member of  BREC Executive Board, will discuss plans for the Lincoln Day Dinner. Bernard Sansaricq will announce future political plans. Refreshments served. 954-786-7536.

Meet Candidates Forum, Dist. 1

Thursday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.

Deerfield Beach Woman’s Clubhouse, 910 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

954-421-4700.

AARP Driver Safety

Thursday, Feb. 24, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. (must have attended also Feb. 17)

NE Focal Point Senior Center, 227 NW 2 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Provides those over 50 years old with updated information on current Florida Statutes, etc. Cost: $14 for 6-hour course ($12 if you’re an AARP member). Space limited; reservations required. 954-480-4447 for reservation.

4-D experience: The Crisis

Friday Feb. 25, Saturday Feb. 26, 6 p.m., tours every 15 minutes

Banyan Air Hanger 63,  Executive Airport

5360 NW 20 Terr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL  33309

Walk through young girl’s journey from a life of drugs, self-abuse, crime and the occult to safety through foster care. $25, includes refreshments. Proceeds benefit 4KIDS of South Florida. www.4KIDSofSFL.org.

Youth Performing Arts Concerts at Mizner Park Amphitheater

• “Kids Incorporated” – Friday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.

• “Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County” – Saturday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m.

• “Up With People” –Sunday, Feb. 27, 4 p.m.

Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432

561-393-7827 or www.myboca.us/rec/specialevents

54th annual 150 Dinner and Live Auction

Friday Feb. 25, 6 to 10 p.m.

Lighthouse Yacht & Racquet Club

2701 Northeast 42 St., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Italian food, dancing & entertainment. $150, includes 1 drawdown entry (win $5000) and dinner. More info: 954-401-3399.

2nd Annual Tea in the Garden

Saturday, Feb. 26, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Parkway United Methodist Church

100 NE 44 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33064

$15/ adult, $25 per couple, $5 child. For other rates, call 954-601-9501 or visit www.thefruitfulfield.org for tickets.

Pompano GreenMarket

Saturday, Feb. 26, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Flagler & NE 1 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

954-292-8040 or greenmarketpompano.com

Boca Raton Green Market

Saturday, Feb. 26, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Royal Palm Plaza SW parking lot, (intersection of S. Fed. Hwy. & S. Mizner Blvd), Boca Raton, FL 33432

561-239-1536 or www.cmboca.org.

First annual  “Emb(race)”

Sunday, Feb. 27, Registration time: 6 a.m.

Starting times: 10K-7:15 a.m., 5K-7:20 a.m., 1 mile-8:30 a.m.

Disability Center at Florida Atlantic University

777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431

10K & 5K walk/run, 1-mile family walk to benefit Stand Among Friends (SAF), who has helped people with disabilities regain independence. Register at: www.stand
amongfriends.org or all 561-715-2622 for info.

Classic Car Show benefiting Making Strides against Breast Cancer

Sunday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Duffy’s, 401 N. Federal Hwy., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

$20 Classic Car registration. DJ, Food, Drink, 50/50 raffle. Contact Eugene Reidy at 954-410-5536 or jpmiranda@miranda@comcast.net .

National League of American Pen Women art exhibition

Through Sunday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lighthouse Point Public Library

2220 NE 38 St., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Free mixed-media art exhibition. 561-487-3588 or 561-369-5366.

Mardi Gras

Sunday, Feb. 27, 1 to 4 p.m.

Henry’s Hideaway, 1500 S. Andrews Ave., Pompano Beach, FL  33069

Presented by the Hot Jazz & Alligator Gumbo Society. $10. 954-563-5390.

Deerfield Beach Green Market

Sunday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sullivan Park, 1724 Riverview Rd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

954-480-4317.

Toastmasters International

Monday, Feb. 28, 7 to 8 p.m.

Deerfield Beach Chamber of Commerce

1601 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

954-803-2122 or visit www.toastmasters.org.

Free TAX assistance

Tuesday, Mar. 1, (Call for time)

Every Tuesday (until Apr. 12)

Dixon Ahl Hall, 2220 NE 38 St., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Doreen Gauthier Lighthouse Point Library, with AARP volunteers, is offering free tax assistance.To find out more, call 954-946-6398 to reserve your time.

Save the Date: Boca Raton Annual Boating and Beach Bash

Saturday, Mar. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spanish River Park, 3001 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Boat rides, live music, interactive displays, complimentary barbeque lunch.  Sponsored by the City’s Advisory Board for People with Disabilities. 561-393-7827.

Impact on recreational fishing

Dear Editor:

The federal government has already shut down recreational fishing for Grouper, Red Snapper, and Sea Bass. They are getting ready to shut down recreational fishing for Dolphin (Mahi Mahi or El Dorado), Cobia, Wahoo and Amber Jack. These closures will effectively end offshore fishing in the southeast Atlantic, as there will be nothing left allowed to fish for — so why bother going fishing in the first place? Florida is the top fishing destination in the United States and Recreational Fishing has an estimated $7.5 Billion annual impact on Florida’s economy. I do not need to point out just how many jobs are tied to the fishing industry, and will be seriously impacted by the decision of the SAFMC commission. By pushing these closures forward, this commission will be ignoring the negative impact this decision will have economically and the large number of jobs that will be effectively eliminated by the closures. I was under the impression the federal government was trying to adopt policies that would help positive job growth. This government agency has obviously not gotten that memo!

Shirley Doll

Lighthouse Point

RE: Parks & Recreation

Dear Editor:

What is the unemployment rate in Florida? 12 percent. If you talk with 60 minutes television show, they have indicated that it is more like 30 percent. If you understood economics, you would agree.

So the commission, through the city manager, hires an out-of-the-state person to take the job that was once promised to George Edmunds, you let people make George a patsy – and are silent. You pay the [new] guy much more than you pay George. By the way, the parks look awful. And now you have this guy coming in from out of state.

George Edmunds is a resident, a father of three beautiful good kids, and unemployed, and it’s not that — HE DID A GOOD JOB. You all have put a real spin on it. By saying nothing shows no leadership or integrity, and I cannot live with that. The bologna that he has faced without any support burns me inside.

Here is a friend, a member of our community, and definitely a person with integrity second to none.

A leader would have spoken up. You did not.

John Grassi

Deerfield Beach

FL Legislature:  Clarke-Reed gets committee assignments

Dear Editor:

As I promised, I can now tell you my committee assignments. I have education as my focus. The committees are Education Committee, Pre K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, K-20 Competitiveness Subcommittee (Ranking Member), Health & Human Services Access Subcommittee. These committees have met and are now preparing PCB’s.

Education is where the biggest changes will come for me. Teacher quality and how to evaluate the classroom teacher is what will change. Needing to understand that the word “tenure” will disappear from contracts. There will be no automatic renewal of contracts. And if for any reason there needs to be changes in staff, the last hired-first out (LIFO) will not be in play.  How this will happen is what the committee is working on.  The evaluation piece is being researched and new assessment tools are being developed.

The budget for education has been reduced by $703 per student over last year’s budget. This cannot be allowed to happen. Pre-K funding was left at last year’s funding. I resubmitted my bill for some of the Powerball Lottery dollars to be used in pre-k classrooms (H.B.33).

There is a big push for Charter Schools to receive more funding and capital outlay dollars. I have a bill that will give more transparency to Charter Schools.

Healthcare is another big issue. The Medicaid transfer of services from the present four-tier system to managed care (HMO) is unacceptable and needs to be watched through the waiver process.

We need to hear from you about what is happening in Tallahassee. Please contact your representatives on these most important issues. My office number is 954-786-4848 or e-mail gwyn.clarke-reed@myfloridahouse.gov.

Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed

State Representative, District 92

Deerfield Beach

RE: These are the times that try men’s souls

Dear Editor:

Chaz Stevens served for one month [April 20, 2010 to May 28, 2010] on the Board of the Deerfield Beach Housing Authority. Jean Robb served as mayor of Deerfield Beach for 13 years [1980-1993.] Who are you going to believe?

Lillian Lorraine

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note: Jean Robb and Chaz Stevens wrote a point/counterpoint that ran in the Feb. 3, Feb. 10 editions of the Observer newspaper, Letters to the Editor.

By Gary Curreri

For a while it appeared Pompano Middle School would end the 23-game winning streak of Silver Trail, and in the process win its first girls’ basketball county championship in seven years.

That was until the undefeated Mustangs flexed its muscle and rallied from an 11-point deficit midway through the third quarter and pulled out a 51-47 victory for its second consecutive county championship. Led by Shanell Atkins, who was named MVP after a 19-point, 16-rebound effort, they throttled the undefeated aspirations of the Bengals, who finished the season 11-1.

Pompano High Middle School girls’ coach Carolyn Hickson said it was a difficult defeat.

“It was real hard,” Hickson said. “We started with nothing but seventh graders, and we will be back next year. Some of them have never played before.”

“To end up here was a blessing,” Hickson added. “Destiny Frazier did a tremendous job. I couldn’t ask any more of her. Skaydrah Woods played great defense. The whole team stepped up. I have three eighth graders, but my whole starting lineup is seventh graders.”

When the season started, Hickson admitted she had her doubts.

“I didn’t think they would come this far,” Hickson said. “They improved every game. By the third game of the year, I started to think they might get here because they were improving with every game.”

Silver Trail opened the game on a 4-0 run before Pompano rallied for a 7-4 lead. After Silver Trail was able to battle back and take a 14-12 lead with 5:30 in the second quarter on a basket by Danielle Antieau, Pompano went on a 13-0 run to take a 25-14 lead on a 3-point play by Frazier with 2:30 left.

Samantha Provenzano stole and went in for a layup to trim the lead to 25-16 at halftime. Shanell Akins opened the second half with a bucket before the Bengals’ Skaydrah Woods hit back-to-back baskets to extend the lead to 29-18 with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Silver trail closed out the period on a 14-4 run, including 5-0 down the stretch to pull to within 33-32. Provenzano’s bank shot at the buzzer gave Silver Trail the momentum entering the final stanza.

The teams traded leads in the fourth quarter with neither team holding more than a 3-point advantage.

Silver Trail took a 46-43 lead with 1:45 left in the game on a basket by Zebegret, before Frazier hit a 3-pointer with 1:28 left to tie the contest at 46-46.

Silver Trail’s Atkins and Pompano’s Woods traded free throws before Atkins hit a short jumper with 34.5 remaining and added two free throws with seven seconds remaining for the 51-47 victory. Atkins finished with 11 of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Frazier paced Pompano with 18 points, while Woods had 13 points, and Kiyana Jones added 12 points. Allison Jordan and Danielle Carr each hit baskets.

Bucks, Knights win

Bendly Valdor had a game-high 13 points and 11 rebounds as Deerfield Beach defeated Boyd Anderson 45-42 to win the District 10-6A boys basketball championship.

Andrew Smith had a game-high 28 points to lead four players in double figures
as Highlands Christian downed Florida Bible, 89-69 for the District 14-1A title. Gabe Gabe Hantsbarger added 21 points.